As a wave of media coverage for Doublespeak proves, anticipation for a union between Vince Clarke (Erasure), Neil Arthur(Blancmange) and Benge would be immense – and all the more so given the project sees them reimagine and renew songs spanning four decades via a timeless prism of gleaming analogue electronica. That excitement is now fully realised as Doublespeak today release their self-titled debut album via London Records. Listen / Buy HERE.
The diversity of the album can be seen by its two very different preview singles. First was a contemporary take on early Mute Records release, Fad Gadget’s ‘Back To The Nature’, which they followed by reworking David Essex’s boundary-breaking‘Rock On’ in a style both fresh and invigorating.
Collectively the album is split almost evenly between songs from the post-punk netherworld brought blinking into the light and pop radio monsters ushered back down a dark stairway into the club. With new highlights ranging from The Carpenters’ ‘Goodbye To Love’ remade as an analogue torch song to the curtain call closer ‘End Credits’ (originally by Laptop), the resulting record amounts to a shadow autobiography of the trio’s musical education.
The album’s focus track is a beautiful and humane reading of a little-known song called ‘Richard!’ by ex-Brothers In Sound member Ed Dowie. While the original is electronic minimalism akin to a lost 1981 Some Bizzare cut, Doublespeak turn up the warmth in a hitherto unheralded gem.
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